Research on Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY)

For those who could not attend the World Conference held in Delhi early this year, here are the key findings of the latest research done on Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY).

1. Dr Richard Brown from the USA discussed how the application of newer technologies to basic research in Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) has thrown light on our understanding of how SKY works. He postulated that SKY contributes to a state of alert calmness by its effect on the vagus nerve, which is the core of the parasympathetic system. Recent studies have shown that the vagus nerve is crucial in social bonding, empathy and love; it is the centre of our gut instincts and is crucial to our ability to perceive, observe and make complex decisions. Vagal activity is estimated from the respiratory sinus arrhythmia as measured by heart rate variability. Impaired vagal activity is found in people with depression, anxiety, panic disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, violent adults, fibromyalgia, post traumatic stress disorder, early Alzheimer’s and obesity. Nowadays, an instrument that artificially stimulates the vagus nerve is being used to treat depression, epilepsy, early Alzheimer’s disease and is an experimental treatment for obesity.

2. Stephen Porges, the foremost expert on the activity of the vagus nerve on reviewing the research done on SKY has suggested that the different rhythms of breath in SKY may stimulate different diameter fibres of the vagus nerve. This makes SKY unique and likely to have a much wider range of effects than the currently available electronic vagus nerve stimulator. Dr Brown suggested that other mechanisms by which SKY works are by calming of stress response systems, neuroendocrine release of hormones, nitric oxide neurotransmission, fear conditioning circuits (prefrontal cortex and limbic system), and thalamic generators. He also discussed various knowledge points as articulated by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar from a neuron-scientific perspective for e.g., `Enlightenment is innocence with intellect’. Interestingly, brain wave rhythms during and after SKY are similar to those of babies.

3. Dr Fahri Saatcioglu from Oslo did a controlled 6 weeklong study of the effect of SKY on the relaxation response and feelings of wellness on 109 subjects. 56 subjects went through the SKY course and thereafter performed SKY yoga daily for 6 weeks. The control group of 53 subjects relaxed in an armchair for 15 minutes daily for the same period. Both groups were given questionnaires to assess changes in depression, anxiety, dispositional optimism, stress,
energy and degree of altered states of consciousness before the instruction and 6 weeks later. Dr Fahri found a statistically significant increase in the experience of wellness in the SKY group compared to the controls. He found a significant decrease in degree of anxiety, depression and stress and a significant increase in degree of optimism in the group practicing SKY.

4. Dr Neeta Singh from New Delhi studied the effects of SKY on the gene expression levels of the genes that affect several stress related pathways of the human body. She found an increase in antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase and glutathione in the 26 SKY practitioners as compared with 25 age and sex matched controls. The level of Glutathione was three times higher in SKY practitioners as compared with controls. A small increase was seen in hTERT in SKY practitioners, which indicates delayed senescence and perhaps a longer life span. The observed decrease in bcl-2, C-Myc and C- Fos in SKY practitioners suggests probable better protection against cancer. This study suggests that subjects doing SKY regularly have a better antioxidant status and better ability to cope with stress.

5. Dr Stephen Larsen from the USA studied neurophysiological responses before, during and after SKY. The tests run were EEG (recorded at 19 cortical sites), EKG, heart rate variability, galvanic skin response, hand skin temperature, pulse plethysmography and blood pressure. He found that SKY practices produced measurably significant changes in ALL physiological measures. Beginning practitioners of SKY had greater changes from their baselines compared to more advanced practitioners. He found that during the practice there is challenge, followed by temporary disorganization leading to calming, regularization and synchrony in such measures as heart rate variability and EEG. The EEGs of beginners showed pockets of synchrony whereas in more advanced practitioners the baseline pre- practice synchrony was higher and a very high degree of “total brain synchrony” was observed across all 19 channels during the breath practices and rest periods. It appears that over a period of time, the practitioner’s physiology becomes more robust, flexible and able to deal with the challenges of stressors and still is able to idle comfortably during quiescence. This explains why regular practice of SKY is very important. Dr Larsen also observed certain large waves in the EEGs during SKY that resemble the ECT waves (electro convulsive therapy). Electro convulsive therapy is an age-old treatment that is very effective in treating depression but is unpopular because of its side effects and convulsions produced. He suggested that the effect of SKY on the brain is like a sub convulsive dose of ECT without the side effects of an ECT. This could explain why SKY is effective in patients with depression.

6. Dr Lyulyakina from Russia studied the functional status of the brain during and after the practice of SKY in 12 volunteers. She found that all the participants showed statistically significant improvement of EEG parameters proved by spectral, power and topographic mapping and coherence analysis. She did not find any statistically significant difference in the dynamics of electrophysiological process between the long Sudarshan Kriya and the shorter version of Sudarshan Kriya.

7. Dr Geetha from Bangalore studied the effect of SKY on antioxidant enzyme activities in menopausal women. –There were 4 groups compared. One group of 40 women received hormone replacement therapy, one group of 40 received 500mg of Vit E daily, a group of 60 women practiced SKY daily and 50 women served as controls. In all groups, the plasma MDA levels (as an index of lipid peroxidation), erythrocyte SOD (superoxide dismutase) and blood GSH (glutathione peroxidase activity) were measured at the start and at the end of 30 days. Dr Geetha found a significant decrease in the MDA levels and marked elevation of GSH-px and SOD levels in the group that practiced SKY as compared with the other groups. Hence the practice of SKY improves the antioxidant power of menopausal women and is superior to the beneficial effects seen with HRT or Vit E on anti oxidant levels.

8. Dr Vedamurthachar from Bangalore studied the effect of the AOL Course on occupational stress and anxiety among 60 software engineers in Bangalore. At the end of a month, the 30 engineers who took the AOL course showed a statistically significant reduction in anxiety and improvement in stress coping skills as compared with the 30 controls. However there were no significant changes seen in the stress symptoms and stress producer variables.

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9. The oral microflora of SKY practitioners was studied by E G Lyulyakina from Russia. She found that the number of microorganisms in lacto vegetarians were 2-3 times less than that in non-strict vegetarians. Oral fluid samples of strict vegetarians did not show any growth of microorganisms after SKY practices. The bacteria found in oral cavity of non-vegetarians were Gram-negative Proteus, which is evidence of putrefactive processes in the mouth of non
vegetarians. She concluded that practice of SKY and a vegetarian diet reduces the microbial content of the mouth.

10. Dr Chiplonkar from Pune studied the lifestyle, behavioural and health aspects of 105 adults before and after undergoing the part I Art of Living Course. She found that majority of micronutrients showed a positive correlation with sattvic foods. After the practice of SKY for 2 months, she found a significant reduction in anxiety score, marginal improvement in patience score and no change in stress score. She also found a significant increase in antioxidant capacity (measured as SOD), reduction in triglycerides, and a marginal reduction in oxidative stress (as measured by plasma MDA levels). Practicing SKY regularly resulted in greater reduction of anxiety score than less frequent practice. Subjects also reported a sense of well-being, improvement in sleep quality and more enthusiasm at work.

11. The psychospiritual benefits of SKY were studied in women diagnosed with breast cancer by Arielle Warner in USA. The subjects were evaluated 2 weeks before the Art of Living Course, 8 days after the Course and after 5 weeks of regular practice. A statistically significant improvement in quality of life, spiritual well being, positive states of mind and perceived stress was observed after the AOL course and was maintained 5 weeks later.

12. Dr Janis Carter from Australia compared the effects of different modalities like Iyengar and Desikachar yoga, Qi Gong, Sudarshan Kriya Yoga and a multicomponent yoga intervention (MCYI) in treating Australian Vietnam war veterans with long standing Post traumatic Stress disorder. She found that the interventions that used many tools of yoga viz. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga and MCYI, showed the greatest efficacy.

13. Dr Patricia Gerberg from USA discussed the effects of doing the SKY program in a patient undergoing psychoanalysis since a long time. She found SKY useful in healing negative past impressions and the `dissociation’ that rendered the patient unable to connect with others and with his own feelings.

14. Janis Apted from the USA studied the effects of SKY on 48 highly stressed faculty members of the Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, Texas. The participants reported improvement in their mood, anxiety, stress, ability to stay calm and levels of anger and frustration.

15. Dr A M Huang from Taiwan showed how the serum levels of BDNF (Brain derived neurotrophic factor) were increased after practice of Pranayam and SKY. BDNF is lower in patients with depression compared to controls. A rise in serum BDNF levels could be an indicator of the beneficial effects of SKY on depression.

16. An electrophysiological study on the effects of SKY was presented by Shruti Baijal from Allahabad. An EEG study was done on SKY practitioners and age matched controls. Mismatch negativity paradigm that provides an indirect physiological measure of the way sensory information is processed by the brain was used for the study. Her conclusion was that there is a more efficient process of inhibition of irrelevant information and maintenance of focused internalized attention for the SKY practitioners.

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